Automatic milker

ABSTRACT

An automatic shutoff milker including four teat cup assemblies connectable with an animal&#39;&#39;s teats and a milk flow passage from each assembly through an accumulation well and into a milk receiving bowl. Four piston and cylinder devices are mounted generally horizontally within a recess on the underside of a base portion for the apparatus, and a flexible cable is connected between each piston and a teat cup assembly for applying pull to the assembly in response to movement of the piston. A sensing probe is disposed within each accumulation well to sense a flow of milk through said passage. The sensing probe is operably connected electrically to the respective piston and cylinder device to actuate the piston for applying a pull to the teat cup assembly when there is a predetermined flow condition of milk in said passage. The flexible cable is removably connected by universal joints to the piston and to the teat cup assembly.

Unite States Patent 1 Needham et a1.

1 1 Apr. 10, 1973 AUTOMATIC MILKER [73] Assignee: Babson Bros. Co., OakBrook, Ill.

[22] Filed: Jan. 11, 1971 [2]] Appl. No. 105,170

[52] US. Cl ..l19/l4.08

Primary Examiner-Hugh R. Chamblee Attorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen,Stellman & Mc- Cord 57 I ABSTRACT An automatic shutoff milker includingfour teat cup assemblies connectable with an animals teats and a milkflow passage from each assembly through an accumulation well and into amilk receiving bowl. Four piston and cylinder devices are mountedgenerally horizontally within a recess on the underside of a baseportion for the apparatus, and a flexible cable is connected betweeneach piston and a teat cup assembly for applying pull to the assembly inresponse to movement of the piston. A sensing probe is disposed withineach accumulation well to sense a flow of milk through said passage. Thesensing probe is operably connected electrically to the respectivepiston and cylinder device to actuate the piston for applying a pull tothe teat cup assembly when there is a predetermined flow condition ofmilk in said passage. The flexible cable is removably connected byuniversal joints to the piston and to the teat cup assembly.

22 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENIEMPRI 3,726,252

SHEET 1 UF 3 INVENTORS LYLE L. IVE'EDHAM 82 30 ROBERT J. SHUL/CK HAROLDl4 SWANSO/V AT TORNEYS PATEHTEUAPRI 01915 3.726.252

SHEET 2 OF 3 VFIG.4

AUTOMATIC MILKER BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION teat. Acontinuous vacuum inside the inflation draws the milk from the teat andthrough the inflation into further milk handling apparatus such as abucket or milk line. The space between the inflation and the shell isalternately evacuated, expanding the inflation and releasing the teat,and opened to air, collapsing the inflation about the teat, providingrest and massage. If the milker is left on the cow after all of the milkhas been withdrawn from the udder, the continued application of vacuumirritates the tissues of the teat and may cause infection and permanentdamage. This problem isfurther complicated by the fact that the fourquarters of the cows udder normally do not require the same period oftime to milk out so that the milking operation should be stopped and theteat cup removed from each quarter at a different time. Where one man ishandling several milker units, it is difficult for him to watch eachunit closely enough to determine when each teat cup should be removed.

Efforts have been made to provide a milker which shuts off automaticallyon the cessation of flow of milk. Some of these milkers haveincorporated float valves of one type or another which seat when themilk flow drops below a minimum value, shutting off vacuum to theinterior of the inflation. If air is admitted to the interior of theinflation, the teat cup will fall from the teat under its own weight.This is generally undesirable because it requires a greater capacity inthe vacuum system. In addition, the mechanism in the' milk flow passage,including the float and valve member and float chamber, for example,greatly complicates the sanitary problems of the dairyman.

Exemplary of other efforts to provide an automatic shutoff milker is themilker shown in U. S. Letters Patent No. 3,115,116 to Schilling et al.,Dec. 24, 1963. In the structure shown in this patent, the flow of milkthrough the inflation from the cows teat is sensed electrically and apiston and cylinder device is utilized to apply a pull to the teat cupassembly. A vacuum system is utilized for actuating the piston andcylinder device to pull the teat cup assembly physically from the cowsteat. Initial pulling on the teat cup assemblies will cause theinflation to kink over the opening on the outer end of the connectornipple for the inflation, cutting off the vacuum to the inflation, andthe teat cup assembly will fall from the teat under its own weight.

In the Schilling patent structure, a rigid member extends from thepiston, with a hook portion disposed over the top of the inflation stemto pull on the inflation in response to the cessation of milk flowthrough the inflation. Such rigid hooks have the disadvantage of beinginflexible and incapable of position adjustment for various sized uddersand/or cows. In addition, if there is a major failure in the shutoffsystem, the rigid hooks cannot readily be removed so as to permitconventional mechanical milking without the automatic shutoff.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedmechanical milker incorporating an automatic shutoff of the milkingoperation as the animal is milked out.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedautomatic shutoff milker wherein the milk flow is sensed electricallyand the teat cup assemblies are pulled individually from the cows teatsupon the cessation of milk flow from the individual teats.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the automatic shutoffmilker has milk withdrawing means including a teat cup assemblyconnectable with an animals teat and with a milk flow passage from theteat cup assembly. A piston and cylinder device is mounted on the milkwithdrawing means and a flexible cable-like member is connected betweenthe piston and the teat 'cup assembly for applying pull to the assemblyin response to movement of the piston. Means operably associated withthe milk flow passage is provided for sensing a flow condition of milkin the passage. Means responsive to the sensing means is provided foractuating the piston to apply pull to the teat cup assembly through theflexible cable-like member. The cable provides for flexibility to permitpositioning of the teat cup assemblies for various sized cows and/orudders.

A feature of the invention is that the flexible cables are removablyconnected to the teat cup assemblies and to the pistons so that thecables may be replaced. In addition the cables may be removed from theteat cup assemblies so that mechanical milking can take place withoutthe automatic shut-off. Preferably, the connections between the ends ofthe flexible cables and the pistons and teat cup assemblies compriseuniversal joints so. that the ends of the cables can swivel relative tothe pistons and the teat cup assemblies to eliminate breakage of thecables due to flexing at the ends thereof.

Another feature of the invention is that the piston and cylinder devicesare mounted entirely within a recess on the underside of the milkwithdrawing means to protect the piston and cylinder devices fromdamage, as by a cow kicking the milk withdrawing means, for instance.Preferably, the piston and cylinder devices are mounted within therecess generally horizontally in order to reduce the overall height ofthe milk withdrawing apparatus.

A further feature of the invention is to provide a new and improvedunitary accumulation well mounted on the top of the milk receiving bowlof the milk withdrawing apparatus, with an electrical sensing probeassembly removably mounted in an upper open end of the accumulationwell. A probe extends downwardly into a lower well portion disposed inthe interior of the milk receiving bowl. The probe assembly forms a capclosing the open top of the accumulation well.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of the milkerof the present invention, in use on a cow;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through the milker shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the milker looking at the undersidethereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the underside of the cover for the milkreceiving bowl of the milker;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, vertical section, on an enlarged scale, throughone of the unitary accumulation wells of the milker, with a sensingprobe assembly positioned therein and with an inflation stern connectedthereto; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical section through the inlet nippleportion of the accumulation well shown in FIG. 5, with the inflationstem shown pulled down and blocking the inlet of the nipple.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention as disclosed hereinis incorporated in a carry-away milking system, i.e., one in which themilk flows directly into a milk line through which it is conducted to abulk holding tank or the like. It is to be understood that the inventioncould also be used with other milkers, as a suspended bucket.

Referring first to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the milker apparatus,generally designated 10, is carried beneath a cow on an arm 12 connectedto a supporting apparatus 14 which is connected to appropriate structurein a parlor stall, or the like. The milker includes four teat cupassemblies 16, each of which includes a rigid outer shell 16a and aflexible inner liner or inflation 16b which is connectable with a cowsteat. The inflation extends through the rigid outer shell 16a, and has astem portion 160 which is connected to a nipple 18 of an accumulationwell (to be described in greater detail hereinafter) mounted in theupper wall or cover 20 of a milk receiving bowl, generally designated22. The cover is secured in place by appropriate clamps 23. An outletnipple 24 from the milk receiving bowl 22 is connected to a milk hose 26(FIG. 2) of an evacuated milk line which carries the milk away to a bulkholding tank or the like. A pulsator valve 28 (FIG. I) mounted on top ofthe milker 10 has nipples 28a and 28b for connection to appropriatehoses which lead to a vacuum line and pulsator control as shown in U. S.Letters Patent No. 3,307,585 to Schilling et al. The pulsator isoperated by vacuum control signals providing alternate vacuum and airthrough hoses 30 to the rigid shells 16a of the teat cup assemblies 16.

A multiple passage control hose 32 (FIGS. 1 and 3) is connected betweena control unit 33 and a piston and cylinder assembly on the underside ofthe milker, as best seen in FIG. 3 and described in greater detailhereinafter. The control unit may be that of the Schilling et al. US.Pat. No. 3,115,116. As will appear, a separate piston and cylinderdevice is provided for each of the teat cup assemblies, the piston beingoperatively connected with the associated teat cup. A sensing meansdetects cessation of flow of milk through the teat cup and actuates thepiston to apply a downward pull to the cup. The downward forcephysically pulls the teat cup unit to a position, as shown best in FIG.6, where the stem portion 16c of the inflation seals with the end ofnipple 18 and cuts off the vacuum to the inflation. Further downwardforce pulls the teat cup assembly from the animals teat.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the piston and cylinderassembly on the underside of the milker 10 comprises four piston andcylinder devices, generally designated 34, each having a piston 34a anda cylinder 34b. The piston and cylinder devices 34 are disposed entirelywithin a recessed base portion 36 of the milker on the underside thereofto prevent damage to the piston and cylinder devices, as by a cowkicking the milker, for example. A cover plate 37 (FIG. 2) may beprovided on the underside of the base portion 36 to enclose the pistonand cylinder devices. A flexible cable-like member 38 is connectedbetween each ofthe pistons 34a and the rigid shell portions 16a of oneof the four teat cup assemblies 16. Thus, when the sensing means (to bedescribed hereinafter) detects a cessation of flow of milk from one ofthe teat cup assemblies, the respective piston 34a will move in thedirection of arrow A (FIG. 2) pulling the flexible cable 38 therewith ina downward and forward direction (arrow B) and pulling the teat cupassembly 16 therewith downwardly and forwardly in the direction of arrowC. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 6, the downward and forward force on theteat cup assembly, by pulling on the flexible cables 38, causes the stemportion of the inflation 16 to block off the end of nipple 18. This cutsoff the vacuum to the interior of the inflation. Further movement of thepiston 34a pulling on the flexible cable 38 will pull the teat cupassembly from the animals teat while the remaining teat cup assembliesremain operative.

The flexible cables 38 preferably are connected at their ends to thepistons 34a and the shells 160 by universal joints to permit the ends ofthe cables to swivel relative to the pistons and shells to avoidbreaking the flexible cables at their ends due to flexing. Braided metalcables have proved effective for the intended purposes herein. As seenin FIG. 2, the universal joints between the ends of the cables and thepistons 34a are of the ball and socket type, with balls 40 secured tothe ends of the flexible cables 38. A sleeve member 40a is telescopedover each of the pistons 34a. The sleeves 40a form sockets for the balls40 on the ends of the flexible cables 38, with the flexible cablesextending through openings 44 in the base of the sleeves. Snap-in springclips 46 extend through aligned apertures in the sleeves 40a and thepistons 34a to removably secure the flexible cables to the pistons.Referring again to FIG. 2, the universal joints between the oppositeends of the cables 38 and the teat cup assembly shells 16a are formed bya loop 41 at the ends of the cables which is linked to a ring 42 which,in turn, is snapped into a snap clip 43 fixed to the teat cup assemblyshells 16a. The loop 41 is maintained at the ends of the flexible cablesby clamps 41a. The loopring-clip jointprovides a quick connect betweenthe cables and the teat cup assembly shells so that the cables mayeasily be removed from the teat cup assembly shells to permit the teatcup assemblies to be washed, for instance. The cables also may becompletely removed from the pistons 34a, for replacement purposes, byremoving the spring clips 46.

Not only do the flexible cables 38 provide for flexibility in thepositioning of the teat cup assemblies for different sized cows and/orudders, but the flexible cables, extending through apertures 50 in therecessed base portion 36, permit the piston and cylinder devices to bedisposed generally horizontal, as seen in FIG. 3. The horizontaldisposition of the piston and cylinder devices reduces the overallheight of the milker and provides for a compact unit. The apertures 50are lined with bushings 51 of ceramic or similar hard wearing material.When the milker is properly positioned beneath a cow, the apertures 50should be forward of the shells 16a so that the cables 38 will pull onthe teat cup assemblies in a downward and forward direction.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, unitary accumulation wellmembers, generally designated 52, are fixedly secured to the cover ofthe milk receiving bowl 22 of the milker and extends through apertures54 in the cover. Four accumulation well members 52 are provided, oneeach for the four teat cup assemblies, and each has a well portion 56disposed within the in terior of the milk accumulation bowl 22 and anupper portion 58-protruding above the cover 20 of the milk receivingbowl 22. The nipple l8 protrudes outwardly and upwardly from the upperportion 58 for connection to the inflation stem 160. The lower wellportion 56 has an overflow opening or passage 60 on the side thereof anda bleeder orifice 62 through the bottom thereof. As best shown in FIG.5, the milk which is withdrawn by vacuum from the cows teat passes downthrough the inflation and into the inlet nipple 18, through the inletnipple and into the well portion 56. When the well portion 56 is filled,the milk will overflow through the opening 60 and will flow partiallythrough the bleeder orifice 62 into the bowl 22 of the milker.

The sensing means of the present invention includes a probe assembly,generally designated 64'(FIG. 5), mounted on the upper portion 58 of theaccumulation well member 52, with an electrical sensing probe 66extending downwardly into the well portion 56. As can be seen in FIG. 5,the upper portion -58 of the accumulation well member 52 has an open topand the probe assembly 64 forms a removable cap for the open top, withan insulating sleeve 68 disposed about the probe 66. An O-ring seal 70is disposed about the upper end of the insulating sleeve 68. The probe66 has lead wires 71 which extend through the control hose 32, as seenin FIGS. 1 and 3, and which are connected to appropriate circuitry inthe control unit 33 to actuate the piston and cylinder devices when milkflow ceases.

In summary, so long as milk flows through the stem 16c of the inflationat a rate faster than the flow of milk through the bleeder orifice 62 ofthe accumulation well 52 the well portion 56 tends to fill and cause themilk to come into contact with the electrical probe 66, and the milkingproceeds in a normal manner. Suitable starting time delay means, forinstance with reference to that employed in the milker shown in theaforementioned Schilling patent, permits the operator to attach the teatcups to the animal and provide sufficient time for the milk to startflowing to fill the well portion 56 of the accumulation well member. Assoon as the milk flow diminishes from any one quarter of the cow's udderto the point where the milk in the well portion 56 is not in contactwith the probe 66, appropriate vacuum valving is opened admitting vacuumto the control hose 32 to the respective cylinder; The piston is drawnin the direction of arrow A (FIG. 2) applying a pull to the teat cupassembly to cause the inflation stem 16c to block off the entrance tothe inlet nipple l8 and further movement of the piston causes the teatcup assembly to be pulled from the cows teat.

It has been found that the size of the bleeder orifice 62 is ofconsiderable importance. The orifice is shown exaggerated in FIG. 5.Through experimentation, it has been found that the orifice size shouldbe approximately three-sixteenths of an inch one-sixteenth inch. If theorifice is larger, the milk will flow directly through the accumulationwell, through the bleeder orifice 62, without building up in the wellportion 56. If the orifice is smaller, flaky or stringy milk tends toclog it and prevent the passage of milk therethrough.

In addition to the flexible cables 38 being removably secured to thepistons and teat cup assemblies, and the teat cup assemblies beingremovably mounted on the inlet nipples 18, the milk receiving bowl 22also is removably mounted on the base portion 36 of the milker so thatthe bowl may be separated from the relatively expensive piston andcylinder control elements, for instance for washing purposes. To thisend, a tongue (FIG. 2) is fixed to the underside of the bowl 22 and isinsertable through an opening 82 through the top of the milker baseportion 36 so that the tongue underlies the roof of the base portion. Asnap ring 84 is mounted as by bolt 85 to the top of the base portion 36and snaps around the outlet nipple 24 to hold the milk receiving bowl 22in position so that the tongue 80 on the bottom thereof cannot back outof the opening 82 in the base portion 36.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in theart.

We claim:

1. In a milker, milk withdrawing means including a teat cup assemblyconnectable with an animals teat and a milk flow passage from said teatcup assembly, a piston and cylinder device mounted on said milkwithdrawing means, a flexible cable-like member connected between saidpiston and said teat cup assembly for applying pull tosaid assembly inresponse to movement of said piston, means operably associated with saidmilk flow passage for sensing a flow condition of milk in said passage,and means responsive to said sensing means for actuating said piston toapply pull to said teat cup assembly through said flexible cable-likemember.

2. The milker of claim 1 wherein said milk withdrawing means includes alower base portion with said piston and cylinder device mounted thereonand said flexible cable extending upwardly therefrom for connection tosaid teat cup assembly.

3. The milker of claim 2 wherein said base portion has a recess withinwhich is mounted said piston and cylinder device.

4. The milker of claim 3 wherein said recess is of a sufficiently largesize relative to said piston and cylinder device that the piston andcylinder device is disposed entirely within the recess, the piston andcylinder device being disposed generally horizontal.

5. The milker of claim 3 wherein said recess is disposed on theunderside of said base portion and the base portion has an upwardlyextending opening through which said flexible cable extends forconnection with said teat cup assembly.

6. The milker of claim 1 including a universal joint connecting one endof said flexible cable to said teat cup assembly to permit said end ofthe flexible cable to swivel relative to the teat cup assembly.

7. The milker of claim 1 including a universal joint connecting one endof said flexible cable to said piston to permit said end of the flexiblecable to swivel relative to the piston.

8. The milker of claim 7 wherein said universal joint is of the ball andsocket type, with a ball secured to said one end of the flexible cableand received in a socket mounted on an end of said piston.

9. The milker of claim 8 wherein said socket is formed on the end of asleeve member which is telescoped over the end of said piston, andincluding removable retaining means for holding the sleeve telescopinglysecured to said piston end.

10. The milker of claim 1 including means removably connecting one endof said flexible cable to said teat cup assembly to permit the teat cupassembly to be removed from the milk withdrawing means for washing orthe like.

11. The milker of claim 10 including means removably connecting theother end of said flexible cable to said piston to permit the cable tobe replaced.

12. The milker of claim 1 including means removably connecting one endof said flexible cable to said piston.

13. The milker of claim 1 wherein said piston and cylinder device isdisposed on said milk withdrawing means such that the direction ofmovement of the piston is generally horizontal.

14. The milker of claim 13 wherein the point of connection of said cableto said piston is below and forward of the point of connection of thecable to said teat cup assembly when said milker is properly positionedbelow the animal so that the pull on the teat cup assembly when thepiston is actuated is in a downward and forward direction.

15. The milker of claim 14 wherein said piston and cylinder device isdisposed in a fore and aft direction relative to the milking position ofthe animal when the milker is properly positioned below the animal, andthe piston when actuated moves in a forward direction.

16. The milker of claim 15 wherein said teat cup assembly has aninflation which is connected to an inlet nipple on said milk withdrawingmeans, the nipple being disposed forwardly of said teat cup assembly andhaving a generally upwardly opening inlet aperture whereby saidinflation, when the teat cup assembly is pulled downwardly and forwardlyby said cable, kinks over the inlet aperture of the nipple and shuts offvacuum to the inflation.

17. The milker of claim 15 including four piston and cylinder devicesfor four teat cup assemblies, the piston and cylinder devices beingdisposed side-by-side generally horizontally and extending generally insaid fore and aft direction.

18. In a milker: milk withdrawing means including a teat cup assemblyconnectable with an animals teat and having an inflation with a stem ortion, a bowl for receiving milk from the inflation 0 said teat cupassembly, said bowl having an upper wall, an accumulation well membergenerally vertically disposed and extending through the upper wall ofthe bowl, the well member having a well portion disposed within the bowland an upper portion exposed exteriorly of the bowl with an inlet nippleprotruding from the upper portion for connection with the stem portionof said inflation, said well having means defining a flow passage fromsaid nipple into said bowl, means sensing a flow of milk through saidpassage, and means operably associated with said assembly and responsiveto said sensing means for applying a pull to said assembly when there isa predetermined flow condition of milk in said passage.

19. The milker of claim 18 wherein said sensing means includes a probeassembly mounted on the upper portion of said well member with a sensingprobe extending downwardly into the well portion of said well member.

20. The milker of claim 19 wherein said probe assembly is removablymounted on the upper portion of said well member.

21. The milker of claim 20 wherein said well member has an open top andsaid probe assembly in part forms a removable cap for the open top ofthe well member.

22. The milker of claim 18 wherein said well portion disposed withinsaid bowl has an overflow passage from the well portion to the interiorof the bowl and a bleeder orifice at the bottom of the well portion,said bleeder orifice having a size of approximately three-sixteenthsinch one-sixteenth inch in diameter.

1. In a milker, milk withdrawing means including a teat cup assemblyconnectable with an animal''s teat and a milk flow passage from saidteat cup assembly, a piston and cylinder device mounted on said milkwithdrawing means, a flexible cable-like member connected between saidpiston and said teat cup assembly for applying pull to said assembly inresponse to movement of said piston, means operably associated with saidmilk flow passage for sensing a flow condition of milk in said passage,and means responsive to said sensing means for actuating said piston toapply pull to said teat cup assembly through said flexible cable-likemember.
 2. The milker of claim 1 wherein said milk withdrawing meansincludes a lower base portion with said piston and cylinder devicemounted thereon and said flexible cable extending upwardly therefrom forconnection to said teat cup assembly.
 3. The milker of claim 2 whereinsaid base portion has a recess within which is mounted said piston andcylinder device.
 4. The milker of claim 3 wherein said recess is of asufficiently large size relative to said piston and cylinder device thatthe piston and cylinder device is disposed entirely within the recess,the piston and cylinder device being disposed generally horizontal. 5.The milker of claim 3 wherein said recess is disposed on the undersideof said base portion and the base portion has an upwardly extendingopening through which said flexible cable extends for connection withsaid teat cup assembly.
 6. The milker of claim 1 including a universaljoint connecting one end of said flexible cable to said teat cupassembly to permit said end of the flexible cable to swivel relative tothe teat cup assembly.
 7. The milker of claim 1 including a universaljoint connecting one end of said flexible cable to said piston to permitsaid end of the flexible cable to swivel relative to the piston.
 8. Themilker of claim 7 wherein said universal joint is of the ball and sockettype, with a ball secured to said one end of the flexible cable andreceived in a socket mounted on an end of said piston.
 9. The milker ofclaim 8 wherein said socket is formed on the end of a sleeve memberwhich is telescoped over the end of said piston, and including removableretaining means for holding the sleeve telescopingly secured to saidpiston end.
 10. The milker of claim 1 including means removablyconnecting one end of said flexible cable to said teat cup assembly topermit the teat cup assembly to be removed from the milk withdrawingmeans for washing or the like.
 11. The milker of claim 10 includingmeans removably connecting the other end of said flexible cable to saidpiston to permit the cable to be replaced.
 12. The milker of claim 1including means removably connecting one end of said flexible cable tosaid piston.
 13. The milker of claim 1 wherein said piston and cylinderdevice is disposed on said milk withdrawing means such that thedirection of movement of the piston is generally horizontal.
 14. Themilker of claim 13 wherein the point of connection of said cable to saidpiston is below and forward of the point of connection of the cable tosaid teat cup assembly when said milker is properly positioned below theanimal so that the pull on the teat cup assembly when the piston isactuated is in a downward and forward direction.
 15. The milker of claim14 wherein said piston and cylinder device is disposed in a Fore and aftdirection relative to the milking position of the animal when the milkeris properly positioned below the animal, and the piston when actuatedmoves in a forward direction.
 16. The milker of claim 15 wherein saidteat cup assembly has an inflation which is connected to an inlet nippleon said milk withdrawing means, the nipple being disposed forwardly ofsaid teat cup assembly and having a generally upwardly opening inletaperture whereby said inflation, when the teat cup assembly is pulleddownwardly and forwardly by said cable, kinks over the inlet aperture ofthe nipple and shuts off vacuum to the inflation.
 17. The milker ofclaim 15 including four piston and cylinder devices for four teat cupassemblies, the piston and cylinder devices being disposed side-by-sidegenerally horizontally and extending generally in said fore and aftdirection.
 18. In a milker: milk withdrawing means including a teat cupassembly connectable with an animal''s teat and having an inflation witha stem portion, a bowl for receiving milk from the inflation of saidteat cup assembly, said bowl having an upper wall, an accumulation wellmember generally vertically disposed and extending through the upperwall of the bowl, the well member having a well portion disposed withinthe bowl and an upper portion exposed exteriorly of the bowl with aninlet nipple protruding from the upper portion for connection with thestem portion of said inflation, said well having means defining a flowpassage from said nipple into said bowl, means sensing a flow of milkthrough said passage, and means operably associated with said assemblyand responsive to said sensing means for applying a pull to saidassembly when there is a predetermined flow condition of milk in saidpassage.
 19. The milker of claim 18 wherein said sensing means includesa probe assembly mounted on the upper portion of said well member with asensing probe extending downwardly into the well portion of said wellmember.
 20. The milker of claim 19 wherein said probe assembly isremovably mounted on the upper portion of said well member.
 21. Themilker of claim 20 wherein said well member has an open top and saidprobe assembly in part forms a removable cap for the open top of thewell member.
 22. The milker of claim 18 wherein said well portiondisposed within said bowl has an overflow passage from the well portionto the interior of the bowl and a bleeder orifice at the bottom of thewell portion, said bleeder orifice having a size of approximatelythree-sixteenths inch + one-sixteenth inch in diameter.